Between Kids, School, and a Belly

There is still a time to go "makeup-less" and "hair-less" for a day, just so I can be goofy with the kids, make an excuse to exercise without having to take two showers in one day (we'll see if that happens), and pack pack PACK!!! I should probably try to NAP NAP NAP with Aiden while Connor is at school, but you know how I am....I think. Nursing Research papers can keep you up all night....even when it's your husband's, and not your own. Yep, I mostly stayed up to edit and proofread, offer this, and offer that. Steve is a zombie at that time in the morning, and although I looked like a zombie, I think I was still thinking rather clear....at least I hope I was, he handed his paper in this morning!

There is still time to flip through a new quilting magazine, lovingly placed for display on the couch by Sandy...surprising me when I came home from a long day of school on Monday....after a long weekend of everything tiresome under the sun....almost! Does life ever really slow down? I'm starting to think that it doesn't.

And last, there is still time to laugh at the weight I have put on through the pregnancy and pose, stubbournly, for Steve, as he took my 16 week pregnancy photo. I thought my belly was looking rather large, but after seeing it myself, I am starting to think that it's not necessarily the belly....just the entire package of ME! What can you do after four children?

I try not to think too much about how worn out my body is, and how large I am getting...although that is quite a hard task. Instead, I joy in every little kick I feel--the baby is getting stronger every day. I first felt the movements two weeks ago, rather early, and the tiny tiny...tiny limbs are stretching across my abdomen now, SO FUN!

Orange, Blue, and Green!

Daddy used the first few days of our Spring Break last week painting the boys room. Yes, it will be quite a job to paint it all white when we move out, but we were tired of the scarred walls from cheap paint and rough boys. So, he chose orange, blue and green for three different walls with a neutral wall that we would like to paint stripes onto.

It's funny that he chose orange, I understand blue and green (Connor's and Aiden favorite colors), but orange may have been inspired from Aiden's Big Brother quilt and Baby Shane's quilt that he lays with now. My thoughts, when I was expecting Shane, were precisely that Shane would inherit an orange theme in a bedroom, with the other boys inheriting blue and green...from the moment I found out it was a boy I had hoped to one day have a large room big enough for all three boys since they are so close in age (only 3 1/2 years difference total!); somehow I would make it all work out! I didn't tell anyone of my plans because they were simply decorating dreams back then, but Steve must be on the same lines I am....we are too much alike!

I can't leave out the giant lion that Nonna got Connor for his Birthday! The first day I was able to take Connor to school, this package came! I was planning a "surprise party" for Connor when he came home and this lion was the biggest surprise of all. He was so cute. I put his name in huge print on his bedroom door, and Daddy and Aiden hid inside with the lion, glow sticks, confetti, and balloons. Connor looked at the door and said, "What is this?" He opened it, and the "SURPRISE!" scared me more than him. He was in heaven. All week long he has said that he has been feeling very special every day since he turned five....that's our goal!

School!!!

Well, now three of us are in school.....never thought I'd see that day. Luckily, by the time Aiden is in school, both Steve and I will be finished....well, Steve may be doing more, but I will definitely be needing a break from the school thing. This is Connor on the second day of school....yep, Mommy couldn't be there for the first day because both Steve and I were in school. But, we have a good Grandma who is willing to make the long drive out here on Monday's to take Connor....never mind the laundry that was folded, the dinner that was made, and the dishes that were done. I cannot say how wonderful it was to come home to organization and FOOD! Thanks Grandma...for everything. At a time when we feel like breaking because of the chaos, we were able to have a relaxing and fun family night.

And this is Connor after his first day of school....when Mommy got home. I found that he walked into the doors happy as can be with no fusing. And then he got a "green dot" from his teacher because he was so good all day. He got another green dot on Tuesday, and he is focused on five this week so he can pick from the treasure box on Friday!

Birthday Part 2

The cake....we had a little accident on the way to Chuck E. Cheese. Steve asked me to hold the cake level so it wouldn't slide...I did the best I could. This must have happened when I wasn't looking that ONE time...seriously.

Go Daddy....I mean Connor!

A Golden Boy....need I say more?

So, Connor also said that he wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese with all of his friends

Ashley

Robbie, and Aiden

Daddy (and Mommy)

Brooke

(and then there was also Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sharon and Unlce Rob....sadly, he knew that he couldn't include the rest of the distant family.)

Oh Yeah...more temple pics

The last part of Connor's Birthday wish was to stay in a hotel....I believe all of his Birthday wishes came true...plus a few. He got to see WALL-E, eat cheese pizza WITHOUT sauce, and get snacks for the hotel.

I think his last Birthday wish would be to have Baby Shane with us on our temple trip. All of these things....the temple, the hotel, the movies....reminds our family of the last weekend we shared with Baby Shane, and since he has passed Conor has been begging to do the very same things for his Birthday. So, golden? I think so....Happy Birthday Golden Boy. I love you!

Golden Boy!

Well, my BIG little guy turned five this past weekend, and it was his GOLDEN BIRTHDAY! I have come to realize that not many people understand the concept of a "Golden Birthday" around here, so let me explain; Connor turned 5 on July 5th....see the correlation? We wanted to make it a special day for him, so we asked him what his Birthday wishes would be, and he said....

"I want to go to the temple!"

"And watch movies about Jesus!"

He is also drawn to the images of Jerusalem every time we go to the temple; he loves learning about what happened in each area when Jesus was alive.

To be continued.....